8 ms·

I had no idea this book existed. The best Russian writers (Dostoyevsky, Solzhenitsyn, Tolstoy) were something like Russian chauvinists. They thought Russia --

I had no idea this book existed. The best Russian writers (Dostoyevsky, Solzhenitsyn, Tolstoy) were something like Russian chauvinists. They thought Russia -- in particular, culturally and religiously -- was above all other nations. There was propaganda in the 19th century about Russia being the "protector of the Slavic peoples" which the targeted countries didn't exactly want. It's an idea that still resonates both in Russia and among her ex-pats. Skimming the Wikipedia page, Conrad seems to have taken offense to precisely this. The book looks fascinating.

everybodyknows 5y ago
Where does Dostoyevsky advocate such ethno-nationalism? Don't remember any such from my readings of either Crime and Punishment or The Brothers Karamazov.
- bingohbangoh 5y ago
  "Ethno-Nationalism" is not the word I'd use to describe it. The question is broad and difficult to answer but I can out a few examples of what I mean. [0] Lots of ideas about Russia's unique place in the world and why they're better than others (e.g. Dostoyevsky on why Russian Orthodoxy was better than other forms of religion). Most of these writers had spent time in the west, did not hold high opinions of it, and were vaguely Slavophiles. [1] There was a reason Dostoyevsky returned to Russia after living in France for some time, even after going to Siberia. Solzhenitsyn did write about other ethnic groups in the Gulags and these often get misinterpreted in their English translations as "kind and meek" whereas their Russian originals would imply something more like "Good-natured simpleton." [2] He, of course, wrote far more controversial books, to put it mildly, but I won't link to those here. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_soul https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_soul [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavophilia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavophilia [2]: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43210399 https://www.jstor.org/stable/43210399
- keiferski 5y ago
  I don’t think I’d call it ethno-nationalism. It’s more of the equivalent of American Exceptionalism. And since we are talking about Conrad, Poland has/had a similar phenomenon at the same time, called “The Christ of Nations.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_of_Europe https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_of_Europe Many of these ideas had roots in 19th century romanticism.
  - bingohbangoh 5y ago
    > I don’t think I’d call it ethno-nationalism. It’s more of the equivalent of American Exceptionalism. That's exactly it. In retrospect, calling it Russian Chauvinism may be a loaded term on my part.
    - spurgu 5y ago
      All three sound the same to me. shrugs

everybodyknows 5y ago

Where does Dostoyevsky advocate such ethno-nationalism? Don't remember any such from my readings of either Crime and Punishment or The Brothers Karamazov.

bingohbangoh 5y ago
"Ethno-Nationalism" is not the word I'd use to describe it. The question is broad and difficult to answer but I can out a few examples of what I mean. [0] Lots of ideas about Russia's unique place in the world and why they're better than others (e.g. Dostoyevsky on why Russian Orthodoxy was better than other forms of religion). Most of these writers had spent time in the west, did not hold high opinions of it, and were vaguely Slavophiles. [1] There was a reason Dostoyevsky returned to Russia after living in France for some time, even after going to Siberia. Solzhenitsyn did write about other ethnic groups in the Gulags and these often get misinterpreted in their English translations as "kind and meek" whereas their Russian originals would imply something more like "Good-natured simpleton." [2] He, of course, wrote far more controversial books, to put it mildly, but I won't link to those here. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_soul https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_soul [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavophilia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavophilia [2]: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43210399 https://www.jstor.org/stable/43210399
keiferski 5y ago
I don’t think I’d call it ethno-nationalism. It’s more of the equivalent of American Exceptionalism. And since we are talking about Conrad, Poland has/had a similar phenomenon at the same time, called “The Christ of Nations.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_of_Europe https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_of_Europe Many of these ideas had roots in 19th century romanticism.
- bingohbangoh 5y ago
  > I don’t think I’d call it ethno-nationalism. It’s more of the equivalent of American Exceptionalism. That's exactly it. In retrospect, calling it Russian Chauvinism may be a loaded term on my part.
  - spurgu 5y ago
    All three sound the same to me. shrugs